Washington Shooter Who Killed 5 Had Been Barred From Owning Guns

The gunman who killed 5 people in Washington State Friday had been banned from owning a gun several months previously due to several domestic violence claims, according to court records.

On Friday night, Arcan Cetin, 20, went into a Macy’s in the Cascade Mall in Burlington, north of Seattle. He shot and killed three women, a teenage girl and one man. After the shooting, Cetin left his rifle on top of a cosmetics counter and left the mall, court documents said.

In the wake of the attack, many have called for an increase in gun regulation.

“Another common denominator in these tragedies is easy access to guns,” wrote a Seattle Times editorial.

Police have not yet disclosed how Cetin, who was not legally able to buy a gun, was able to obtain the rifle he used in the deadly shooting.

Cetin has been described as “zombie-like” since his arrest on Saturday.

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“As far as where he got the gun, that’s what we hopefully will be able to find out in the next few days,” said Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis.

“I don’t know what his motivations were to do this. I don’t know what his motivations were to continue. I don’t know what his motivations were to stop,” said Lt. Chris Cammock of the police department in Mount Vernon, near Burlington.

Amber Cathey, 21, described Cetin as “really creepy, rude and obnoxious” and said she blocked him on Snapchat after he sent her a photo of his crotch.

Court records show Cetin faced three domestic violence assault charges after disputes with his stepfather. In December, a judge banned Cetin from possessing firearms.

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Steven Crowder noted Monday on his Louder with Crowder website that Cetin’s gun was not legally obtained.

“I know what you’re thinking. ‘But if Cetin was banned from owning a gun, how did he obtain a gun?’ Excellent question. If I were to guess, illegally. Because it would seem that if a criminal has the desire to kill, they’ll find a way to get a gun. As most of them do,” wrote Crowder.

He continued: “See, here’s the thing. Serious criminals? You know, as in not Martha Stewart, but the kind who shoot up malls. Those guys have no qualms about breaking the law. So laws do diddly squat in the way of warding them off. Because criminals and illegal activity go hand in hand. Thus, gun control doesn’t affect them so much.”